EXCHANGE 


CRUISE  OF  THE  U.  S.  BRIG  ARGUS 

IN   1813 


JOURNAL   OF 

SURGEON  JAMES  INDERWICK 


EDITED  FROM  THE  ORIGINAL   MANUSCRIPT  IN  THE  NEW  YORK 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY  WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION  AND  NOTES 

BY  VICTOR  HUGO  PALTSITS 

CHIEF   OF  THE   AMERICAN   HISTORY   DIVISION 
AND   KEEPER  OF   MANUSCRIPTS 


THE  NEW  YORK 
PUBLIC    LIBRARY 

1917 


CRUISE  OF  THE  U.  S.  BRIG  ARGUS 

IN   1813 


JOURNAL    OF 

SURGEON  JAMES  INDERWICK 

II 


EDITED  FROM  THE  ORIGINAL   MANUSCRIPT  IN  THE  NEW  YORK 
PUBLIC  LIBRARY  WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION  AND  NOTES 

BY  VICTOR  HUGO   PALTSITS 

CHIEF   OF  THE   AMERICAN   HISTORY   DIVISION 
AND   KEEPER  OF   MANUSCRIPTS 


THE  NEW  YORK 
PUBLIC    LIBRARY 

1917 


•£« 


REPRINTED  AUGUST  1917 

FROM    THE 

BULLETIN  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
OF  JUNE  1917 

form  p-95  tvlii-13-17  5cl 


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ENGRAVED    BY   DAVID    EDWIN 

Frontispiece  to  "The  Port  Folio,"  January,  1814 


CRUISE  OF  THE  U.   S.   BRIG  ARGUS  IN    1813 
JOURNAL  OF  SURGEON  JAMES  INDERWICK 


INTRODUCTION 

THE  original  manuscript  journal  of  Dr.  James  Inderwick  was  presented 
recently  to  The  New  York  Public  Library  by  the  Governors  of  the  So 
ciety  of  the  New  York  Hospital.  It  occupies  forty-four  pages  of  a  small  folio 
register,  beginning  on  the  first  page  with  the  heading:  "Report  of  Sick  on 
board  U.  S.  Brig  Argus  W.  H.  Allen  Esq.  Comdr,"  followed  by  the  first  entry 
on  Tuesday,  May  11,  1813.  The  last  entry  is  Saturday,  August  21,  of  the 
same  year.  The  remaining  110  pages  of  the  register  are  mostly  blank,  but 
some  have  pharmaceutical  or  other  accounts,  written  during  the  years  1819, 
1824,  and  1827  to  1831,  which  have  no  relation  to  Inderwick  or  to  the  naval 
record.  On  a  front  flyleaf  there  is  a  calculation  of  the  persons  on  board 
the  Argus,  consisting  of  "Officers  &  men  150.  Passengers  3.  Passengers'] 
Servants  2  —  155  Souls." 

In  the  matriculation  register  of  Columbia  College  James  Inderwick  is 
registered  as  a  student  in  the  school  of  arts,  graduating  A.  B.  in  1808.  He  is 
also  registered  as  a  student  in  the  medical  school  in  1808-1809,  taking  courses 
in  anatomy  and  chemistry.  He  received  his  master's  degree  elsewhere  and 
pursued  his  medical  course;  but  it  has  not  been  determined  \vhether  he  con 
tinued  at  some  other  medical  school  or  became  associated  with  some  physician. 
His  name  does  not  appear  in  the  New  York  directories;  there  is  no  further 
record  of  him  at  Columbia,  and  he  is  not  registered  at  the  then  newly-organized 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons.  His  two  autographs  in  the  register  of 
Columbia  College  leave  no  doubt  that  the  naval  journal  was  written  by  him, 
notwithstanding  that  his  name  nowhere  appears-  in  the  journal  itself.  Dr. 
Inderwick  was  house  surgeon  at  the  New  York  Hospital  from  February,  1812, 
to  February,  1813.  In  May,  1813,  he  was  attached  to  the  Brig  Argus,  and 
on  July  24th,  while  on  the  cruise,  was  commissioned  a  surgeon  in  the  navy 
of  the  United  States,  appearing  as  no.  18  in  a  list  of  nineteen  named  on  that 
date.2  In  1814  he  was  still  credited  as  employed  as  a  surgeon,  singularly 
enough  as  of  the  Argus?  In  1814,  the  British  Brig  Epervicr  had  been  cap- 

1  The  publication  of  this  account  may  not  be  considered  inappropriate,  in  view  of  the  international 
events  that  are  now  taking  place  in  the  same  waters  that  were  cruised  by  the  Argus  over  a  century  ago. 

-American  State  Papers  —  Naval  Affairs,   1:301. 

3  Ibid,  348.  Being  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war  in  England,  his  name  on  the  U.  S.  navy  list  naturally 
associated  him  with  his  last  assignment. 

[3  ] 


4  THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

tured  and  added  to  the  navy  of  the  United  States.  Inderwick  was  her  surgeon 
in  1815,  when,  after  passing  through  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar,  she  was  lost 
at  sea  with  all  aboard.  It  is  believed  that  his  manuscript  journal  of  the  Argus 
was  left  at  the  New  York  Hospital  after  his  return  from  England  and  before 
his  entrance  upon  the  last  fatal  cruise  in  the  Epervier. 

From  Dr.  Inderwick's  record  we  are  able  to  conclude  that,  on  the  whole, 
the  health  of  the  crew  of  the  Argus  was  very  good.  There  were  on  the  sick 
list  from  eight  to  seventeen,  and  usually  about  a  dozen  men,  numbers  of 
whom  were  soon  able  to  return  to  duty. 

The  brig  Argus  was  built  at  Boston,  in  1803,  by  Edmund  Hart.  She 
had  a  tonnage  of  298;  the  length  of  her  keel  was  80  feet;  the  breadth  of  her 
beam  was  20  feet,  and  the  depth  of  her  hold  was  12  feet  and  8  inches.4  From 
a  record  of  1806,  it  appears  that  she  had  cost  originally  $37,428.29.5  She 
then  carried  sixteen  guns,  the  highest  number  of  any  brig  in  the  navy.6  In 
1803  she  went  to  the  Mediterranean;  was  in  the  harbor  of  Tripoli,  in  August, 
1804,  with  121  men  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Isaac  Hull,  in  the  American 
squadron  under  Commodore  Edward  Preble.  That  year  and  the  next  she 
had  repairs  made  to  her  in  the  Mediterranean.  She  was  repaired  in  March, 
1808,  at  Norfolk.  Va.,  and  again  in  March,  1809,  at  the  navy  yard  in  New 
York.  These  repairs  cost  more  than  $19,000.7  In  1811,  she  had  her  new 
berth  deck  calked,  her  bottom  hove  out,  calked  and  coppered,  at  a  cost  of 
$13,000.8  In  June,  1812,  with  a  complement  of  120  men,  she  was  under 
Master  Commandant  Arthur  Sinclair.  In  Ocotober,  of  that  year,  she  was 
stationed  in  the  North  Atlantic  under  the  same  commander.  Later  Sinclair 
was  given  a  leave  to  visit  his  friends  and,  by  order  of  Commodore  Decatur, 
was  superseded  in  the  command  of  the  Argus  by  Lieutenant  William  Henry 
Allen. 

William  Henry  Allen9  was  born  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  on  October  21, 
1784,  son  of  William  Allen,  an  officer  during  the  American  Revolution, 
who,  in  1786,  was  appointed  by  Congress  senior  officer  of  the  legionary  corps 
intended  to  be  raised  in  Rhode  Island,  and  who  became,  by  legislative  appoint 
ment  of  1799,  brigadier-general  of  militia  of  that  State.  The  father,  whilst 
a  major  in  the  Revolution,  is  said  to  have  had  "for  a  short  time,  the  charge 
of  the  unfortunate  Andre,"  sitting  up  with  him  "the  whole  night  previous 


4Niles'  Weekly  Register,  V:230. 

5  American  State  Papers  —  Naval  Affairs,  1:149. 

6  Ibid,   154.     Later  she  carried  eighteen  guns. 
''Ibid,  253. 

8  I  bid,  335. 

9  The    particulars    of    his    biography,    unless    otherwise    noted,    have    been    taken    from    the    excellent 
memoir  in  The  Port  Folio,  3d  series,  vol.  3,  no.   1    (January,  1814),  published  at  Philadelphia,  by  Bradford 
and   Inskeep. 


CRUISE  OF  THE  U.  S.  BRIG  ARGUS  IN  1813  5 

to  his  execution."  William  Henry  Allen's  mother  was  a  sister  of  William 
Jones,  the  governor  of  Rhode  Island  during  the  War  of  1812.  From  such 
a  stock  patriots  are  expected  and  the  son's  career  fulfilled  the  tradition.  His 
parents  had  intended  him  for  a  liberal  education;  he  got  through  with  his 
preparatory  studies,  but  yearned  for  a  more  active  life  and,  on  April  28,  1800, 
as  a  midshipman,  entered  the  navy  of  the  United  States,  against  the  remon 
strances  of  his  parents.  Within  three  months  he  was  on  board  the  frigate 
George  Washington,  commanded  by  William  Bainbridge,  destined  to  Algiers.10 
On  April  19,  1801,  he  came  back  with  Commodore  Bainbridge  and  about  a 
week  later  was  ordered  to  the  Philadelphia,  commanded  by  Captain  Samuel 
Barron,  "to  scour  the  Mediterranean  sea  again."  This  ship  returned  on  June 
27,  1802,  and  Allen  had  only  a  short  furlough,  for  in  October  he  went  on 
a  third  cruise  of  the  Mediterranean,  this  time  in  the  frigate  John  Adams, 
commanded  by  Captain  Rodgers,  from  which  he  returned  in  December,  1803. 
Early  in  1804,  Allen  was  appointed  sailing-master  of  the  frigate  Congress, 
then  at  Washington,  and  sailed  in  her  on  July  1st,  under  Captain  Rodgers, 
for  another  Mediterranean  voyage.  On  the  way  out,  in  the  midst  of  a  storm, 
while  he  was  aiding  the  sailors  on  the  foreyard,  Allen  was  thrown  "headlong 
into  the  sea,  to  a  depth  of  twenty  feet,"  saving  himself  only  by  taking  hold  of 
the  mizzen  chains  as  he  arose.  Reaching  the  harbor  of  Tripoli,  Allen  assisted 
Rodgers  in  taking  soundings,  preparatory  to  an  anticipated  attack.  This 
hazardous  job  was  ended  during  a  gale  from  which  they  made  a  narrow 
escape  to  the  Nautilus.  The  cruise  lasted  from  1804  to  1806.  In  October, 
1805,  Rodgers  removed  to  the  frigate  Constitution  and  became  commander 
of  the  squadron,  Allen  going  with  him  as  third  lieutenant.  It  was  during 
this  cruise  that  he  and  Commodore  Rodgers  became  lost  in  the  fields  of  lava 
while  visiting  Mt.  /Etna,  only  to  be  rescued  by  monks  from  a  monastery 
below.  The  Constitution  returned  to  the  United  States  in  1806.  Allen  was 
given  shore  leave  and  seized  the  occasion  to  visit  his  friends  at  Providence. 
In  February,  1807,  he  was  ordered  to  the  frigate  Chesapeake,  as  third  lieu 
tenant,  under  Captain  Barron.  He  was  in  the  engagement  with  the  British 
ship  Leopard,  in  June  of  that  year,  and  showed  his  mettle  by  snatching  a  coal 
from  the  flames,  firing  the  only  gun  set  off  before  his  superior  ordered 
a  premature  and  humiliating  surrender.  For  this  misconduct  Barron  was 
subsequently  condemned.  Allen  remained  with  the  Chesapeake  until  Febru 
ary,  1809,  when  he  was  ordered  aboard  the  frigate  United  States,  commanded 
by  Commodore  Stephen  Decatur.  Allen  was  with  this  frigate  when,  on 
October  25,  1812,  she  captured  the  British  frigate  Macedonian,  and  he  had 

10  This  frigate  was  the  first  one  to  fly  the  American  flag  in  the  harbor  of  Constantinople. 


6  THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

the  honor  of  bringing  the  prize  ship  into  the  port  of  New  York.  Decatur, 
in  his  report  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  particularly  singled  out  Allen  for 
notice  and  attributed  the  superior  gunnery  in  the  action  to  Allen's  "unremitted 
exertions  in  disciplining  the  crew."  n  In  the  festivities  provided  by  the  corpo 
ration  and  citizens  of  New  York  in  honor  of  the  event,  Allen  had  a  full  share 
with  his  superior  officer.  He  then  got  a  respite  and  visited  home  and  friends. 
It  was,  however,  of  short  duration,  and  he  was  soon  in  command  of  the  brig 
Argus,  in  succession  to  Captain  Arthur  Sinclair.  His  first  lieutenant  on 
the  Argus  was  William  H.  Watson,  and  his  second  lieutenant  was  William 
Howard  Allen,12  not  a  relative;  so  that,  singularly  enough,  the  three  officers 
bore  exactly  the  same  initials  in  their  given  names  and  two  of  them  had  similar 
family  names.13 

When  the  Journal  of  Surgeon  Inderwick  was  begun,  on  May  11,  1813,  the 
Argus  lay  at  anchor  near  Sandy  Hook;  on  the  17th  she  was  near  Staten  Island, 
and  on  the  18th  in  the  Narrows;  from  May  19th-  June  17th,  she  lay  off  New 
York,  and  on  the  18th  was  under  sail  at  Sandy  Hook.  From  June  19th-  July 
10th  at  sea,  she  sighted  land  on  July  llth,  and  was  at  Port  Louis  L'Orient. 
France,  from  July  12-20.  The  remainder  of  her  cruise  until  her  capture  by 
the  Pelican  will  appear  from  the  selections  printed  from  the  Journal.  The 
object  of  the  cruise  was  ostensibly  to  convey  William  Harris  Crawford,  of 
Georgia,  newly-chosen  minister  plenipotentiary,  and  successor  to  Joel  Barlow, 
deceased,  to  France,  accompanied  by  his  suite.  In  his  instructions  from  the 
navy  department,  dated  June  5,  1813,  Allen  was  directed  to  land  the  party 
at  the  first  port  of  France  without  risk.  On  June  12th,  he  wrote  to  the  secre 
tary  of  the  navy,  that  he  would  "immediately  proceed  to  put  in  execution  his 
orders  as  to  the  ulterior  purpose  of  his  destination."  14  The  "ulterior  pur 
pose"  in  his  instructions  read:  "You  will  then  proceed  upon  a  cruise  against 
the  commerce  and  light  cruisers  of  the  enemy,  which  you  will  capture  and 
destroy  in  all  cases;  unless  their  value  and  qualities  shall  render  it  morally 
certain  that  they  may  reach  a  safe  and  not  distant  port.  Indeed,  in  the  present 
state  of  the  enemy's  force,  there  are  very  few  cases  that  would  justify  the 
manning  of  a  prize;  because,  the  chances  of  reaching  a  safe  port  are  infinitely 
against  the  attempt,  and  the  weakening  the  crew  of  the  Argus  might  expose 
you  to  an  unequal  contest  with  the  enemy.  It  is  exceedingly  desirable  that 


11  The  official  text  is  in  American  State  Papers  —  Naval  Affairs,   1:281. 

12  He  was   mortally  wounded  in  an  action  against  about  one  hundred  pirates  near   Point  Hycacos,  on 
the  north  side  of  Cuba,  on  November  9,   1822.     As  he  was  expiring,  he  expressed  satisfaction  that  he  was 
dying  in  the  service  of  his  country.  —  American  State  Papers  —  Naval  Affairs,   1:823-824.      Watson   subse 
quently  revenged  the  loss  of  his  old  comrade  by  a  successful  slaughter  of  pirates,  and  died  in  the  service 
with  a  fine  record. 

13  Captains  were  paid  $100;   lieutenants  $40,  and  surgeons  $50  per  month. 

14  Port  Folio,  3d  ser.,  111:16. 


CRUISE  OF  THE  U.  S.  BRIG  ARGUS  IN  1813  7 

the  enemy  should  be  made  to  feel  the  effects  of  our  hostility,  and  of  his  bar 
barous  system  of  warfare;  and  in  no  way  can  we  so  effectually  accomplish 
that  object,  as  by  annoying  and  destroying  his  commerce,  fisheries,  and  coast 
ing  trade.  The  latter  is  of  the  utmost  importance,  and  is  much  more  exposed 
to  the  attack  of  such  a  vessel  as  the  Argus,  than  is  generally  understood.  This 
would  carry  the  war  home  directly  to  their  feelings  and  interests,  and  produce 
an  astonishing  sensation.  For  this  purpose,  the  cruising  ground  from  the 
entrance  of  the  British  channel  to  Cape  Clear,  down  the  coast  of  Ireland, 
across  to,  and  along  the  northwest  coast  of  England,  would  employ  a  month 
or  six  weeks  to  great  advantage.  The  coasting  fleet  on  this  track  are  im 
mensely  valuable;  and  you  would  also  be  in  the  way  of  their  West  India  home 
ward  fleet,  and  those  to  arid  from  Spain,  Portugal,  and  the  Mediterranean. 
When  you  are  prepared  to  leave  this  ground,  you  may  pass  round  the  north 
west  of  Ireland,  towards  Fair  island  passage,  in  the  track  of  the  Archangel 
fleets,  returning  home  in  August  and  September."  The  instructions  closed 
with  these  words:  "Your  talents  and  honorable  services  are  deeply  impressed 
upon  this  Department,  and  will  not  cease  to  excite  its  attention.  Wishing 
you  a  prosperous  and  honorable  cruise."  1S 

These  definite  orders  Allen  carried  out  with  precision.  It  was  at  once 
a  perilous  task  and  "a  service,  to  a  man  fond  of  glory,  peculiarly  invidious."  16 
Notwithstanding,  Allen  showed  himself  the  gentleman  as  well  as  a  thorough 
man-of-war's  man.  Private  property  of  passengers  was  secure  from  loot. 
On  July  24th,  having  captured  the  Susannah,  a  large  British  brig,  he  gave  her 
up  to  her  captain  on  account  of  two  women  who  were  passengers.17  "Prob 
ably  no  action  of  his  life  could  more  plainly  distinguish  his  character  than 
this:  he  loved  danger  as  much  as  he  abhorred  to  plunder  the  defenceless."  18 
And  his  character  can  be  gaged  from  the  beautiful  feeling  expressed  in  his 
last  letter  to  his  sister,  viz.  —  "When  you  shall  hear  that  I  have  ended  my 
earthly  career,  that  I  only  exist  in  the  kind  remembrance  of  my  friends,  you 
will  forget  my  follies,  forgive  my  faults,  call  to  mind  some  little  instances 
dear  to  reflection,  to  excuse  your  love  for  me,  and  shed  one  tear  to  the  memory 
of  Henry."  The  record  of  the  twenty  prize  vessels  taken  by  Allen  dur 

ing  his  short  cruise  in  the  Argus  is  revealed  in  the  portion  of  Inderwick's 


15  The  important  document  from  which  these  extracts  are  taken  is  in  American  State  Papers  —  Naval 
Affairs,  1:375.     Mahan  shows  that  the  Argus  was  the  first  United  States  vessel  which  emphasized  the  fact, 
that  the  waters  surrounding  the   British   Islands  were  the   field  where   commerce   destruction   could   be   most 
decisively  effected.  —  Sea  Power  in  its  relations  to  the  War  of  1812,  11:216. 

16  Port  Folio,   16. 

17  This  is  recorded  in  the  journal  and  verified  by  British  accounts.      See  also  Niles'   Weekly  Register, 
V:78;  also  135-136,  149-150,  for  evidences  of  his  humane  conduct  toward  captives. 

^Port  Folio,   17. 

19  Ibid,  23.     Allen  was  unmarried. 


8  THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

Journal  that  follows  here.20  On  December  20,  1815,  his  brother,  Thomas  J. 
Allen,  acting  as  attorney  and  agent,  presented  to  the  U.  S.  Senate  a  claim 
for  prize  money  for  the  vessels  captured  and  destroyed.  In  this  memorial 
to  the  chairman  of  the  Senatorial  Committee  on  Naval  Affairs,  reference 
is  made  to  "a  chart  of  the  track  of  the  Argus,  and  a  list  of  the  vessels  she 
captured,  their  tonnage,  &c.  &c.  and  the  documents  that  were  found  on  board 
these  vessels."  It  continues:  "The  chart  shows  the  course  of  the  Argus  from 
L'Orient,  up  the  western  coast  of  Ireland,  into  the  river  Shannon,  and  thence, 
round  into  St.  George's  channel  where  she  was  captured.  The  red  letters  on 
the  list  of  vessels  indicate  the  time  and  place  of  their  capture  on  the  chart. 
...Lieutenant  Watson,  of  the  Argus,  on  his  return  from  England  to  this 
country,  delivered  at  the  Navy  Department  a  report  respecting  the  value 
&c.  of  these  vessels  and  their  cargoes,  which  he  estimated  at  about  three  mil 
lion  of  dollars,  as  will  be  seen  by  referring  to  the  letter  from  Mr.  [Benjamin] 
Homans.  ...  I  made  application  at  the  Navy  Department  for  the  log  book 
of  the  Argus,  which,  perhaps,  contains  some  information  of  importance  on 
the  subject,  but  it  has  not  yet  been  found;  as  soon  as  it  is  discovered,  I  shall 
beg  leave  to  add  the  evidence  it  may  afford  to  that  presented  now."  21 


FIGHT    BETWEEN    THE    ARGUS   AND   THE    PELICAN 

The  successful  raiding  of  the  British  commerce  filled  the  ship-merchants 
with  consternation,  whilst  insurance  mounted  to  prodigious  rates  on  war  risks. 
In  Lloyd's  lists,  and  otherwise,  the  English  newspapers  made  public  the  awful 
losses.  Something  had  to  be  done  to  hunt  down  this  Yankee  phantom  of 
the  seas  and  British  cruisers  were  hurriedly  despatched  to  scurry  the  waters 
in  search  of  her.  On  August  12th,  Vice- Admiral  Thornborough,  of  the  British 
navy,  ordered  Captain  John  Fordyce  Maples22  in  the  brig  Pelican  "to  cruise 
in  St.  George's  Channel  for  the  protection  of  the  trade,  and  to  obtain  informa 
tion"  of  the  American  destroyer.23  The  Pelican  was  one  of  the  largest  brigs  in 
the  British  navy  and  had  been  built  in  1812.  Her  tonnage  was  385.  She  had 
16  carronades  (32-pounders),  two  long  6-pounders,  and  a  12-pound  launch- 
carronade,  as  well  as  two  brass  6s  procured  by  Captain  Maples  as  standing 
chase-guns.  Her  metal  broadside  was  274  pounds,  or  one-sixth  heavier  than 


20  Compare  also  Neeser,  11:300;   American  State  Papers  —  Naval  Affairs,  1:374.     The  latter  is  a  list 
of  vessels  taken  or  destroyed  by  the  U.  S.  navy  during  the  war,  not  complete,  however,  for  the  Argits. 

21  American   State  Papers  —  Naval  Affairs,    1:373. 

22  For  his  capture  of  the  Argus,  Maples  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  "Commodore,"  being  succeeded 
in  the   Pelican   by   Captain   Mansell. 

23  London    Times,   August  25,   1813,   letter  of  Maples  to  Thornborough;   also   in   The  Naval  Chronicle 
(1813),  XXX:246. 


CRUISE  OF  THE  U.  S.  BRIG  ARGUS  IN  1813  9 

the  Argus;  whilst  her  complement,  when  the  action  began,  consisted  of  104 
men  and  12  boys,  who  were  mostly  under  thirteen  years  of  age.24 

The  Pelican  had  only  arrived  at  Cork  from  a  cruise  on  the  morning  of 
the  12th  and  had  been  ordered  to  prepare  again  for  sea  immediately.25  At 
ten  o'clock  at  night  of  the  13th,  Captain  Maples  fell  in  with  the  brig  Mary, 
from  Wexford,  and  from  her  master  learned  the  course  of  the  Argus.26  At 
six  in  the  morning  of  the  13th, -Allen  burnt  the  Defiance  and  the  Baltic;  at 
nine  o'clock  that  night  he  captured  his  best  prize,  the  large  brig  Belford,  and 
at  midnight  burnt  her.27  At  four  in  the  morning  of  the  14th,  Captain  Maples 
in  the  Pelican  "sa\v  a  vessel  on  fire  [the  Bel  ford],  and  a  brig  [the  Argus]  stand 
ing  from  her."28  He  "made  all  sail"  to  give  chase,  and  "at  half-past  five 
came  alongside"  of  the  Argus.29  When  both  brigs  sighted  one  another  at 
four  o'clock,  the  Argus  was  in  St.  George's  Channel,  in  latitude  50°  15'  N. 
and  longitude  5°  50'  W.,  according  to  Lieutenant  Watson,30  which  was  some 
miles  off  St.  David's  Head,  on  the  coast  of  Wales.  Captain  Allen  had  made 
up  his  mind  not  to  run  away  from  any  two-masted  enemy  ship.31  The 
Pelican  was  "standing  down  under  a  press  of  sail"  upon  the  "weather-quarter" 
of  the  Argus,  "the  wind  being  at  south,"  so  "the  Argus  close-hauled  on  the 
starboard-tack."  32  Having  shortened  sail  "and  made  herself  clear  for  an 
obstinate  resistance,"  the  Argus  got  three  cheers  from  the  crew  of  the  Pelican 
and  the  action  commenced  at  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  August  14th, 
being  "kept  up  with  great  spirit  on  both  sides,"  according  to  the  report  of 
the  British  commander.33  Now  we  have  seen  that  the  complement  of  the 
Pelican  was  112.  The  Argus  had  originally  150,  according  to  the  notation  of 
Surgeon  Inderwick,  and  149  according  to  the  British  captain,  which  is  cor 
rect  if  the  allowance  of  one  who  died  on  the  voyage  over  is  deducted;  but, 
whatever  the  exact  number,  the  Argus's  complement  had  been  materially 
reduced  by  the  manning  of  prize  ships.34 

As  the  south  wind  gave  the  Pelican  the  windward  position  and  prevented 
the  Argus  from  getting  the  weather-gage,  she  shortened  sail,  "wore  round," 
and  gave  the  Pelican  "the  larboard  broadside,  being  at  this  time  [6  A.  M.] 

24  James.  Naval  Occurrences.     London,  1817,  p.  273,  275,  279,  281. 

25  Ibid,  269;  London  Times,  August '18,  1813. 
28  London  Times,  August  13,  1813. 

27  Inderwick's  Journal,  infra, 

28  Maples  to  Thornborough,  in  London  Times,  August  25,  1813. 

29  Ibid. 

30  Niles'  Weekly  Register,  VIII  :43;  James,  op.  cit.,  appendix  43. 

31  Port  Folio,  3d  series,  111:17. 

32  Watson    to    secretary   of    navy,    March    2,    1815,   in    Niles'    Weekly    Register,    VIII:43;    also    James, 
op.   cit.,   appendix   43.      In   London    Times.   August    18,    1813,  testimony   of   Capt.    Mills,    of  the  Hope,   from 
Newcastle  to  Cork,  which  had  been  ordered  by  the  Argus  to  follow  her,  but  had  escaped  during  the  battle. 

33  Maples  to  Thornborough,  in  London  Times,  August  25,  1813. 

34  Maples  says  that  there  were  127  in  the  crew  of  the  Argus  when  the  action  began.     James,  op.  cit.,  277, 
puts  the  number  at  131,  and  Spears,  op.  cit.,  11:368,  as  low  as  104. 


10  THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

within  grape-distance."  The  Pelican  replied  with  a  full  broadside  and  the 
brigs  were  presently  "within  the  range  of  musketry.'' 35  The  brigs  ran  side  by 
side  in  this  range,  probably  under  two  hundred  yards  apart.36 

Four  minutes  after  the  action  had  opened,  Captain  Allen  had  his  "left 
knee  shattered  by  a  cannon  shot."  37  But  this  intrepid  commander  continued 
to  direct  the  fire  for  four  minutes  longer  until,  "being  much  exhausted  by  the 
loss  of  blood/'  he  was  taken  below  deck,  where  Surgeon  Inderwick,  about  two 
hours  after  the  action,  "amputated  the  thigh."  38  The  Pelican  had  shot  away 
the  "main  braces,  main-spring-stay,  gaff  and  try-sail  mast"  of  the  Argus. 
First  Lieutenant  William  H.  Watson  now  took  command.  At  6.12,  the  Argus 
lost  her  "sprit-sail-yard,  and  the  principal  part  of  the  standing  rigging  on  the 
larboard-side  of  the  fore-mast."39  At  the  same  time,  Watson  "received  a 
wound  on  the  head  from  a  grape-shot,"  tearing  off  a  part  of  the  scalp,  so 
that  the  bone  was  denuded.40  Stunned  by  the  blow,  he  was  carried  below, 
where  the  surgeon  dressed  the  wound.  The  command  of  the  quarter-deck 
now  devolved  upon  the  second  lieutenant,  William  Howard  Allen,  Jr. 

At  6.14,  the  Pelican,  being  then  on  the  weather-quarter  of  the  Argus, 
edged  off  in  an  endeavor  to  get  under  her  stern,  "but  the  Argus  luffed  close 
to  with  the  main-top-sail  a-back,"  and  frustrated  the  attempt,  by  throwing 
herself  across  the  Pelican's  path  and  giving  her  a  raking  broadside.41  The 
aim  was  poor  and  "seems  to  have  lost  her  the  effect  that  should  have  resulted 
from  this  ready  and  neat  manoeuvre."42 

The  rigging  of  the  Argus  had  already  suffered  great  damage.  At  6.18, 
she  had  her  "preventer  [duplicate]  main-braces  and  main-top-sail  tye"  shot 
away.43  Having  lost  the  use  of  her  after-sails  and  being  unmanageable,  she 
"fell  off  before  the  wind."44  This  gave  the  Pelican  a  chance  to  choose  her 
own  position,  which  she  did  by  passing  first  under  the  stern  of  the  Argus, 
and  then  up  to  the  starboard  side.45  The  Pelican  was  enabled  to  rake  her  fore 
and  aft,  whilst  her  only  reply  to  the  broadsides  was  with  musketry.46  "At 
6.25,  the  wheel-ropes  and  running  rigging  of  every  description  being  shot 
away,  the  Argus  was  at  the  complete  mercy  of  the  Pelican.  At  6.30,  when 
First  Lieutenant  Watson,  his  wounds  dressed  and  himself  sufficiently  re- 

35  Watson  to  secretary  of  navy,  March  2,  1815. 

36Mahan,  Sea  Power  in  its  relations  to  the  War  of  1812,  11:217;  Spears,  op.  cit.,  11:363. 

37  Inderwick's  Journal. 

3SIbid;  Watson  to  secretary  of  the  navy,  March  2,  1815. 

39  Watson,   as  cited  above. 

40  Ibid;  Inderwick's  Journal. 

41  Watson  as  cited  before. 
42Mahan,  op.  cit.,  11:218. 

43  Watson  as  cited  before. 

44  Ibid. 
«  Ibid. 

46Mahan,  op.  cit.,  11:218. 


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CRUISE  OF  THE  U.  S.  BRIG  ARGUS  IN  1813  H 

covered,  returned  to  the  deck,  the  Pelican  was  at  the  stern  of  the  Argus,  within 
pistol-shot,  where  she  continued  to  rake  her  until  6.38,  when  the  Americans 
prepared  to  board,  but  were  prevented  by  their  shattered  condition.47  The 
Pelican  now  took  a  position  on  the  starboard-bow  of  the  Argus.  From  this 
time  until  6.47  o'clock  the  Argus  was  ''exposed  to  a  cross  or  raking  fire,  with 
out  being  able  to  oppose  but  little  more  than  musketry  to  the  broadside"  of 
the  British  brig,  as  her  guns,  being  disabled,  were  seldom  brought  to  bear.48 

After  a  fight  of  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  Lieutenant  Watson,  realizing 
his  untenable  position  in  the  helplessness  of  the  Argus,  and  observing  that 
the  British  were  preparing  to  board,  surrendered.49  -  When  the  smoke  cleared 
away,  "the  English  flag  was  seen  flying  over  the  American,  and  both  vessels 
lying  to,  repairing  damages/'50  Two  shots  had  "passed  through  the  boat 
swain's  and  the  carpenter's  cabins"  of  the  Pelican.  "Her  sides  were  filled 
with  grape-shot;  and  her  rigging  and  sails  injured  much.  Her  fore-mast, 
and  main-top-mast,  were  slightly  wounded,  and  so  were  her  royals;  but  no 
spar  was  seriously  hurt.  Two  of  her  carronades  were  dismounted."  51 

The  stubborn  resistance  of  the  Argus  —  despite  the  loss  of  her  com 
mander,  the  temporary  disability  of  her  first  lieutenant,  and  the  odds  in  a 
series  of  sulphurous  broadsides  of  iron  —  made  an  impression  upon  her  oppo 
nent.52  It  has  been  said,  however,  that  when  all  things  are  considered,  the 
defeat  was  "one  of  the  most  unfortunate  defeats  suffered  at  sea  during  the 
war";53  and  Mahan's  analysis  is:  "After  every  allowance  for  disparity  of 
force,  the  injury  done  by  the  American  fire  cannot  be  deemed  satisfactory, 
and  suggests  the  consideration  whether  the  voyage  to  France  under  pressure 
of  a  diplomatic  mission,  and  the  busy  preoccupation  of  making,  manning, 
and  firing  prizes .  .  .  may  not  have  interfered  unduly  with  the  more  important 
requirements  of  fighting  efficiency."54  On  the  other  hand,  Mahan  avers,  that 
the  "rapid  succession  of  captures"  made  by  the  Argus  "is  a  matter  of  more 
significance  than  the  loss  of  a  single  brig  of  war.  It  showed  the  vulnerable 
point  of  the  British  trade  and  local  intercommunication."  5S 

In  some  early  naval  histories,  followed  by  some  later  writers,56  it  has  been 
alleged  that  the  Argus,  just  before  she  met  the  Pelican,  had  captured  a  vessel 


47  Watson,  as  previously  cited. 

48  Ibid. 

49  Ibid. 

50  London  Times,  August  18,  1813. 

51  James,  op.  cit.,  272. 

52  Maples  in   his   report   to   Thornborough   expressed    regret   that   Allen   had   been   wounded,   suffering 
amputation. 

53  Spears,  op.   cit.,  11:367. 

54  Mahan,  op.  cit.,  11:218-219. 
86  Ibid,  219. 

58  Cooper,  History  of  the  Navy  of  U.  S.   (London,   1839),  11:307;   Dawson's  Battles  of  U.  S.,  11:267, 
who  quotes  Cooper,  but  does  not  take  the  charge  seriously;   Spears,  op.  cit.,  11:369. 


12  THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

from  Oporto,  laden  with  wine,  which  had  been  brought  aboard  clandestinely, 
"as  the  boats  passed  to  and  fro,  and  that  many  of  the  people,  who  had  been 
over- worked  and  kept  from  their  rest,  partook  of  the  refreshment  it  afforded 
too  freely."  There  is,  however,  not  a  scintilla  of  evidence  in  records  to  sup 
port  the  charge.  The  Argus  made  no  capture  that  fits  the  case  with  respect 
to  Oporto.  She  had  indeed  captured,  at  that  time,  her  main  prize,  the  large 
brig  Belford,  from  Dublin,  bound  to  London,  laden  with  a  large  store  of  Irish 
linen  and  some  wine.  There  was  taken  out  of  her  "a  box  of  Plate"  and  in 
three  hours  after  her  capture  she  was  ablaze.57  Moreover,  Cooper,  who  made 
the  charge,  freely  admits  that  Captain  Allen's  "influence  over  the  crews  with 
which  he  sailed  was  very  great,  and  it  is  not  possible  to  say  now  what  might 
have  been  the  result  of  the  combat  in  which  he  fell,  had  he  not  been  so  early 
killed."58 

The  crew  of  the  Argus  was  a  new  one,  under  a  new  commander.  She  had 
sailed  without  delay  with  a  diplomatic  charge,  precluding  the  opportunity  of 
training  the  men  in  gun  exercises  and  other  manoeuvres.59  She  had  in  twenty- 
two  days  (July  23— August  13)  captured  nineteen  prizes.  "The  continued 
loss  of  sleep,  together  with  the  excessive  fatigue  consequent  upon  such  a  rapid 
succession  of  captures,  and  the  extreme  watchfulness  necessary  in  so  exposed 
a  situation,  disabled  the  Argus  from  making  so  great  a  resistance  to  her  more 
powerful  enemy  as  she  might  otherwise  have  done."  60  Lieutenant  Watson, 
communicating  his  report  to  the  secretary  of  the  navy,61  also  referred  to  "the 
superior  size  and  metal"  of  the  Pelican  "and  the  fatigue"  which  those  on 
the  Argus  had  endured  "from  a  very  rapid  succession  of  captures."  Besides, 
he  felt  "great  satisfaction  in  reporting  the  general  good  conduct  of  the  men 
and  officers  engaged  on  this  occasion."  A  court  of  inquiry,62  "to  investigate 
the  causes  of  the  loss  by  capture"  of  the  Argus,  was  held  at  Baltimore,  on 
board  the  U.  S.  frigate  Java.  The  members  of  the  court  were  Captains  Ridgely 
and  Spence,  Lieutenant  Budd,  and  Judge  Advocate  J.  S.  Skinner.  They  "care 
fully  examined  into  the  causes  of  the  loss  by  capture ...  and  also  into  the 
conduct  of  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  said  sloop  of  war  before  and  after 
her  surrender."  After  mature  deliberation  "upon  all  the  testimony,"  they 
found,  among  other  things,  "that  the  crew  of  the  Argus  was  very  much  ex 
hausted  by  the  continued  and  extraordinary  fatigue  and  exposure  to  which 
they  had  been  subjected  for  several  weeks,  and  particularly  for  twenty-four 


67  Inderwick's  Journal. 

68  Cooper,  op.  cit.,  11:310,  note. 

59  Port  Folio,  3d  series,  111:18. 

60  Memorial  of  Allen's  brother,  in  American  State  Papers  —  Naval  Affairs,  1:373. 

61  As  previously  cited. 

62Niles'  Weekly  Register,  VIII:145-146. 


CRUISE  OF  THE  U.  S.  BRIG  ARGUS  IN  1813  13 

hours  immediately  preceding  the  action";  that  "every  officer  and  man  of 
the  Argus  (with  the  exception  of  one  man,  Jacob  Allister,  and  one  boy,  Hen- 
drick),  made  use  of  every  practicable  exertion  to  capture  the  British  sloop 
of  war  Pelican/'  The  verdict  of  the  court,  therefore,  was,  "that  every  officer 
and  man  (with  the  exception  before  mentioned)  displayed  throughout  the 
engagement,  a  zeal,  activity  and  spirit  in  defence  of  the  vessel  and  flag  com 
mitted  to  their  protection,  which  entitles  them  to  the  undiminished  confidence 
and  respect  of  their  government  and  fellow-citizens." 

The  casualties  of  the  Argus  in  action  were  eight  killed  or  mortally 
wounded,  and  ten  wounded.  Those  who  died  were  Captain  Allen,  Midship 
men  Edwards  and  Delphy,  Boatswain's  Mate  Jordan,  and  four  seamen.  The 
wounded  were  Lieutenant  Watson,  a  boatswain,  the  carpenter,  the  quarter 
master  and  six  seamen. 63  On  the  Pelican,  the  casualties  were  two  killed  and 
five  wounded.64  William  Young,  a  master's  mate,  was  "slain  in  the  moment 
of  victory,"  as  he  led  the  boarding  party  and  had  stepped  "upon  the  gunwale 
of  the  Argus!'  The  others  were  seamen.  Captain  Maples  "had  a  narrow 
escape;  a  spent  canister-shot  striking,  with  some  degree  of  force,  one  of  his 
waistcoat  buttons,  and  then  falling  on  deck."  65 

After  the  fight  was  over,  the  prisoners  were  divided.  A  third  of  the  crew 
of  the  Pelican  were  placed  on  board  the  Argus.  On  account  of  the  unsup 
ported  state  of  the  foremast  of  the  Argus  and  in  consequence  of  a  strong 
breeze  that  came  up,  the  prize-master  bore  up  for  Plymouth,  while  the  Pelican 
went  to  Cork  to  report  to  the  admiral.  On  her  way,  the  Pelican  transferred 
some  thirty  of  her  prisoners  to  the  Leonidas,  which  she  had  met  at  sea.66 

Meanwhile,  Captain  Allen  was  in  a  precarious  condition.  He  continued  in 
the  Argus  to  Plymouth,  where,  at  the  solicitation  of  Surgeon  Inderwick,  he  was 
removed  to  the  Mill  Prison  Hospital,  and  died  there  at  eleven  o'clock  on  the 
night  of  August  18th.67  As  he  was  being  taken  out  of  the  ship  to  the  hospital,  he 
cast  his  languid  eyes  on  his  comrades,  saying:  "God  bless  you,  my  lads;  we  shall 
never  meet  again."  68  He  was  conscious  at  intervals  "till  within  ten  minutes  of 
his  dissolution,  when  he  sunk  exhausted,  and  expired  without  a  struggle."  69 

The  commander-in-chief  or  port  admiral  at  Plymouth  directed  that  Allen 


63  This    record    of    eight    killed    or    mortally    wounded    and    ten    wounded,    is    deduced    from    Surgeon 
Inderwick's  Journal.     Lieut.  Watson's  report  to  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  says  six  killed,  seventeen  wounded, 
of  whom  five  afterwards  died.     Mahan,  op.  cit.,  11:218,  has  adopted  these  figures.      Spears,  op.  cit.,   11:368, 
puts  the  killed  at  ten,  and  the  wounded  at  fourteen,  evidently  an  attempted  analysis  of  James,  op.  cit.,  272. 

64  Maples  to  Thornborough,  in  London  Times,  August  25,   1813. 
63  James,  op.  cit.,  270. 

M  Ibid,  279. 

6T  Inderwick's  Journal;  John  Hawker,  former  U.  S.  vice  consul  at  Plymouth,  to  General  Allen,  August 
19,   1813,  in  Port  Folio,  3d  series,  111:20. 
«*Port  Folio,  111:19. 
69  Hawker  to  Gen.  Allen  in  Port  Folio,  111:20. 


14  THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

be  buried  with  military  honors.70  The  funeral  took  place  on  Saturday,  August 
21st.  The  procession  left  Mill  Prison  at  noon.  On  the  coffin  was  a  velvet 
pall,  over  which  was  spread  the  American  ensign,  and  on  it  were  laid  his  hat 
and  sword.  As  the  coffin  was  being  removed  to  the  hearse,  the  guard  saluted; 
when  deposited,  the  procession  moved  forward,  the  band  playing  the  "Dead 
March  in  Saul."  Upon  arrival  near  the  church,  the  guard  halted  and  clubbed 
arms,  single  files  inward,  through  which  the  procession  passed  to  the  church, 
into  which  the  corpse  was  carried  and  deposited  in  the  centre  aisle.  The  funeral 
service  was  read  by  the  vicar,  after  \vhich  the  recessional  took  place,  passing 
through  the  guard  as  upon  entrance,  and  the  body  was  interred  in  the  south 
yard  of  St.  Andrew's  on  the  right  of  his  midshipman,  Richard  Delphy,  who 
had  had  both  legs  shot  off  at  the  knees,  and  whose  interment  had  taken  place 
only  the  preceding  evening. 

The  order  was  as  follows: 

"PROCESSION. 
Guard  of  Honour. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  of  Royal  Marines, 

With  two  Companies  of  that  Corps. 

The  Captains,  Subalterns,  and  Field-Adjutant  (Officers  with  hat-bands  and  scarfs.) 

Royal  Marine   Band. 
Vicar  and  Curate  of  St.  Andrew's. 

Clerk  of  ditto. 
THE  HEARSE, 

with  the  Corpse  of  the  deceased  Captain, 
Attended  by  eight  seamen,  late  of  the  Argus,  with  crape  round  their 

arms,  tied  with  white  crape  ribbon. 
Also  eight  British  Captains  of  the  Royal  Navy,  as  pall-bearers,  with 

hat-bands  and  scarfs. 

Captain  Allen's   servants,  in  mourning. 

The  Officers,  late  of  the  Argus,  in  uniform,  with  crape  sashes  and 

hat-bands,  two  and  two. 
John  Hawker,  Esq.  late  American  Vice-Consul,  and  his  Clerks. 

Captain   Pellowe,   Commissioner  for  Prisoners  of  War. 

Dr.  M'Grath,  Chief  Medical  Officer  at  Mill  Prison  Depot. 

Captains  of  the  Royal  Navy  in  port,  two  and  two. 

Marine  and  Army  Officers,  two  and  two. 

Servants  of  the  American  Officers,  two  and  two. 

Followed  by  a  very  numerous  and  respectable  retinue  of  Inhabitants."  T1 


70  London  Times,  August  23,  1813. 

71  London  Times,  August  28,  1813,  p.  3,  col.  4;  also  in  Port  Folio,  3d  series,  III:  21-22.     Allen  Street 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  was  named  in  his  honor. 


CRUISE  OF  THE  U.  S.  BRIG  ARGUS  IN  1813  15 

SELECTIONS    FROM    THE   JOURNAL 

July  1st  [1813]  Thursday     at  sea 

This  morning  in  Gale  lost  James  Hunt  one  of  our  finest  men.  He  fell 
from  the  main  yard,  struck  on  the  starboard  gunnel  and  then  overboard.1 

July  7th  Wednesday     at  sea 
Captured  yesterday  the  Brittish  Schooner  Salamanca 2    -  burnt  her. 

July  11th  Sunday     in  sight  of  land 
anchored  between  the  Isle  Groix  &  main. 

July  12th  Monday     Port  Louis 

[On  this  day  Mr.  Groves  had  his  arm  caught  in  a  turn  of  the  cable  when 
the  anchor  was  being  dropped.  For  several  days  his  forearm  was  much 
swelled,  but  under  treatment  of  the  surgeon  it  was  restored  in  a  week's  time.] 

July  14th  Wednesday     Port  Louis  L'Orient 

I  this  day  received  a  note  from  Mr  Jackson3  Secy  of  Legation  intimat 
ing  a  desire  of  the  Minister  Mr  Crawford  4  that  I  should  call  upon  him  as  he 
was  indisposed.  Found  him  labouring  under  a  Cattarrhal  affection  —  at 
tended  writh  fever. 

[On  July  15th,  the  surgeon  visited  Mr.  Crawford  again  "at  the  Consuls 
some  distance  above  L'Orient,"  and  found  him  "altogether  better."] 

July  20  Tuesday     Port  Louis  L'Orient 
Sailed  this  Evening  from  Port. 

July  23d  Friday     at  Sea 
Cruising  of[f]  the  Mouth  of  the  English]  Channell 


1  This  was  the  first  death  on  the  voyage. 

2  The  Salamanca,   of  Poole,   was   on   her  way   from   Oporto   to   Newfoundland;    formerly   she   was  the 
King  of  Rome,  of  New  York.     She  was  "of  two  hundred  and  sixty  tons,  pierced  for  eighteen  guns,  mount 
ing  six  and  manned  with  sixteen  men."  —  Capt.  W.  H.  Allen  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  July  12,   1813, 
in  Niks'   Weekly  Register,  V:46. 

All    names    of    ships    are    printed    in    italics,    even    when    they    are    not    underscored    in    the    original 
manuscript. 

3  Henry  Jackson,   a  professor  in  the  University  of  Georgia.     After   Crawford's  return  to  the  United 
States,  Jackson  remained  in  France  as  charge  d'affaires  until  1817. 

4  William    Harris   Crawford,   who   succeeded   to   the   mission   to    France,   left   vacant   by   the   death   of 
Joel  Barlow  in  the  preceding  year.     Crawford  was  born  in  Amherst  County,  Va.,  on  February  24,  1772;  he 
died  at  Elberton,  Ga.,   on   September  15,   1834.      In   1799,   he  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Lexington,   Ga.; 
was  a  State  Legislator,    1803-1807;   United  States  Senator  from  Georgia,  from  November  7,   1807,  until  he 
resigned  on  March  23,  1813.     In  the  United  States  Senate  he  had  been  president  pro  tempore.     He  declined 
the  portfolio  of  war  offered  to  him  by  President  Madison,  preferring  the  place  of  Minister  Plenipotentiary 
to  France.     This  post  he  filled  until  April  22,  1815. 


16  THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

Captured  this  Evening  after  a  few  hours  chase  the  Schooner  Matilda  5 
from  Brazil  &  bound  to  England  —  formerly  an  American  Privateer. 

July  24th  Saturday     at  Sea 

Captured  this  morning  a  large  brig6  from  Madeira  for  England  laden 
with  wine,  got  a  few  y2  pipes  of  the  best  on  board  intended  for  the  use  of  the 
Countess  of  Shaftesbury —  £8.800  sterling  —  Stove  nearly  all  the  rest.  On 
account  of  2  Lady  Passengers  we  gave  her  up  to  the  Captain  —  Sent  all  our 
Prisoners  on  board  her  —  Manned  the  Schooner  7  with  14  men  under  the  com 
mand  of  Mr  Groves. 

Lat  49  50  near  Scilly 

July  25th  Sunday     at  sea 

Saw  a  fleet  of  11  sail  this  morning  a  frigate  among  them —  also  a  large 
sail  to  windward  —  spoke  her  —  she  proved  a  palacre  8  ship  from  Lisbon  to 
London  Portuguese  —  fleet  out  of  sight. 

July  26  Monday     Mouth  of  the  Channell 

Discovered  a  Square  rigged  vessell  this  morning —  from  her  appearance 
supposed  an  American  Standing  before  the  wind  up  Channell —  Did  not  give 
chace  as  it  would  carry  us  too  far  up  the  channell  —  especially  as  the  wind 
is  from  the  Westward. 

July  27th  Tuesday     at  sea  off  Ustend  9 

Captured  a  large  English  Brig  the  Richard  10  from  Giberalter  in  ballast. 
Took  out  the  Capt  &  Crew  and  a  female  Passenger  &  burnt  her. 

July  28  Wednesday     at  sea 

Discovered  at  8  A.  M.  a  Brig  &  Cutter  apparently  in  chase  of  a  Schooner. 
Bore  down  upon  them  and  found  them  English  armed  Vessels.  Tack'd  and 
stood  away  when  they  all  gave  chase  —  run  the  Schooner  &  Cutter  out  of 
sight  by  12.  at  3  P.M.  the  Brig  Visible  on  our  lee  Quarter  with  a  glass,  at 

5  The  Matilda  had  been  captured  by  the  Lion,  a  privateer  of  London.  Now  in  the  British  service, 
she  was  on  a  voyage  from  Pernambuco  in  Brazil  to  London  when  taken  by  the  Argus.  A  few  days  later 
she  was  retaken  by  the  frigate  Revolutionaire  and  arrived  at  Plymouth,  England,  on  July  30th.  —  Bell's 
Weekly  Messenger,  1813,  p.  247.  255. 

8  The  Susannah,  Captain  Porrett,  from  Madeira  to  London.  She  arrived  at  Penzance  on  July  25th. 
—  Bell's  Weekly  Messenger,  1813,  p.  247;  London  Times,  August  26,  1813. 

T  The  Matilda. 

8  Gold  ship. 

9  Ostend,  in  Belgium. 

10  The  Richard,  of  Whitby,  Capt.  Biggs  or  Briggs,  from  Gibraltar  to  Portsmouth. 


CRUISE  OF  THE  U.  S.  BRIG  ARGUS  IN  1813  17 

4PM  the  Brig  continues  the  chase  bearing  the  same  as  before  —  She  rather 
free  —  we  close  to  the  Wind  —  Speed  9  knots    lost  her  at  dark.11 

July  31st  Saturday     at  sea 

Brought  too  a  large  Ship  this  morning,  which  proved  to  be  a  Danish 
Merchantman,  sailing  under  license  from  Norway  bound  to  Limerick,  laden 
with  Timber.  She  had  been  spoken  in  the  N[orth]  Sea  by  the  Pelican  Sloop, 
and  on  the  Coast  by  a  Brittish  Frigate. 

August  1st  Sunday     at  sea  off  the  Shannon 

Made  the  land  to  day  —  the  first  light  House  on  Loop  Head  12  on  the 
N[orthj  of  the  Entrance  of  the  Shannon.  Stood  into  the  Shannon  about  9  or 
10  miles- — Brought  too  a  brig  called  the  Fowey13  from  Limirick  to  Ports 
mouth  with  Pork  for  Government  —  Burnt  her  —  remained  in  the  river  under 
easy  sail  until  she  had  burned  to  the  water's  edge  &  had  nearly  grounded 
among  the  breakers  on  the  N[orth]  side  —  The  Shore  lined  with  inhabitants 
-  Towards  evening  stood  out  to  Sea. 

August  2d  Monday     at  Sea 

Captured  this  afternoon  a  Cutter  rigged  vessell  laden  with  butter  &  Hides 
from  Limerick  for  Liverpool.  Called  Lady  Francis14  —  took  out  some  of 
the  Butter  —  She  kept  near  us  during  the  night. 

August  3d  Tuesday     at  sea     Lat  53  6 

It  blowing  a  heavy  gale  with  a  high  Sea  we  were  unable  to  board  the 
prize  —  Mr  Allen  15  displayed  a  Signal  we  lay  too  'till  he  came  within  speaking 
distance  —  found  he  had  no  Quadrant  on  board  &  was  afraid  of  a  separation 
-Slung  a  Cask  containing  a  Quadrant- Navigation  book  &c  &  veered  it 
astern  which  after  some  dif iculty  he  contrived  to  get  on  board  —  he  remained 
by  us  all  night. 

August  4th  Wednesday     at  Sea 

12  oClk  The  gale  still  continues  —  unable  to  board  the  Prize  on  account 
of  the  Sea  — 


11  On  the  30th  they  were  "Off  S.   W.   Coast  of  Ireland  in  sight  —  Ennis  Tuscan,"  or  the  island   of 
Inishtooskert. 

12  The  promontory  on  the  north  side  of  the  entrance  of  the  River  Shannon. 

13  The  Fowey,  Capt.   McDonnell,   laden  "with   200  tierces  and   138  barrels  of  pork."  —  Bell's   Weekly 
Messenger,   1813,   p.    263,  which   says  also   that   "she  drove   on  shore  the   next   day   in   Kilbaha    Bay,   where 
the  greater  part  of  the  cargo  was  landed,  and  taken  possession  of  by  the  inhabitants." 

14  The  Ladv  Frances,  Capt.  Blair,  of  Rothesay.     Burnt  on  the  afternoon  of  August  5th 

15  William  Henry  Allen. 


18  THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

4PM  Gale  continues  Sent  Mr  Levy 16  in  the  Gig  with  men  to  relieve 
Mr  Allen  &  crew 

August  5th  Thursday     at  sea 
Lat.  53  15 

11  oCk  The  Weather  has  moderated.  A  heavy  sea  remains:  but  sub 
siding.  Prize  in  Co. 

4  P.M.     Every  prospect  of  bad  weather  again  boarded  the  prize  —  took 
out  Provisions  &  water  and  set  fire  to  her  —  during  the  time  the  boats  were 
employed  the  Wind  increased  to  a  heavy  Gale.17 

August  7th  Saturday     at  Sea 

Discovered  this  morning  a  large  rock  under  our  lee  Supposed  to  be  one 
of  the  Skellings.18 

August  8th  Sunday     at  Sea     off  Qapej  Clear 

Discovered  a  large  vessel  early  this  morning  —  made  sail  for  her  —  upon 
closing  made  her  out  to  be  a  frigate  —  hauled  upon  a  wind  and  soon  lost  sight 
of  her. 

August  9th  Monday     off  Kinsale 

Four  sail  in  sight  at  Day  light  this  morning  a  large  one  to  wrindward 
and  one  to  leeward  stand  for  us  —  -  The  large  one  proved  to  be  a  Russian  ship 
from  Cork  to  Limerick  —  was  informed  that  the  Jalouse  Sloop  of  22-32s 
w7as  sent  from  Cork  after  us  5  days  ago  — The  vessells  to  leward  stood  from 
us  —  wore  ship  after  them  —  Wind  very  light  &  little  hope  of  getting  up 
with  them. 

5  P.M.     Calm,     manned  the  boats  and  captured  both.     The  Ship  Bar- 
badoes19  &  Brig  Alliance20  on  Government  service  —  Burnt  them  about  10 
at  night. 21     Much  incommoded  with  Prisoners. 


16  Uriah  Phillips  Levy,  who  entered  the  United  States  Navy  in  1812,  being  "Sailing-master"  on  Octo 
ber  21,  of  that  year, 

17  On  the  6th,  land  was  in  sight,  in  latitude  52°,  15'.     One  of  the  seamen  was  suffering  from  rheuma 
tism  over  his  whole  body,  he  having  "been  much  exposed  to  wet  £  fatigue." 

18  One  of  the   Skelligs,   rocky   islets   off  the  southwest  coast  of   Ireland.      Probably  the  one   mentioned 
was  the  Great   Skellig. 

19  The  Barbadoes,  Capt.   Skiller  or  Skilling,  was  a  British  transport. 

20  The  Alliance,  Capt.   Davis,  of  Milford,  was  a  British  transport. 

21  A   contemporary  account  dated  at  Cork,   on  August   13th,   says:   "On   Saturday  the   ship  Barbadoes, 
the   Alliance,    and    the   Jason    Russian   vessel,    in   company   with    some    others,    sailed    from    this    harbour    for 
Limerick.      In  the   course   of   Sunday,    some   of   the   vessels   put   into    Kinsale,   but   the   three   abovementioned 
proceeded   on   their  destination.      On   Monday  evening  they   fell   in  with,   off   Baltimore,   the   American   sloop 
of  war  the  Argus.      She  boarded  the  Jason,  but  permitted  her  to  proceed.      She  then  boarded  the  Barbadoes 
and  Alliance,  and  after  having  taken  out  the  crews,   set  them  on  fire  and  completely   destroyed  them."  — 
London  Times,  August  18,  1813,  p.  3. 


- 

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O      I 

z   z 

II 


CRUISE  OF  THE  U.  S.  BRIG  ARGUS  IN  1813  19 

August  10th  Tuesday      at  sea 

About  2  A.M.,  weather  foggy,  4  large  sail  were  discovered  close  aboard 
to  wrindward.  Soon  after  as  day  broke  a  large  fleet  were  observed  around 
us.  One  of  the  vessels  near  us  proved  to  be  a  Frigate  within  musket  shot 
of  us.  She  did  not  discover  us  until  we  had  gained  the  weather  gage,  when 
she  made  sail,  but  could  not  come  up.  She  made  signals  and  another  more 
to  leeward  made  sail  a  man  of  w7ar  Brig,  at  the  same  time  lying  too  for  us 
on  our  larboard  bow.  We  ran  nearly  close  aboard  of  the  Brig  in  perfect 
silence  —  men  concealed  at  quarters,  we  passed  and  she  did  not  molest  us. 
About  SAM  sent  our  boat  aboard  a  Schooner  The  Cordelia22  from  Antigua 
for  Bristol,  one  of  a  fleet  of  400  sail.  Destroyed  her  Cargo  consisting  of 
Sugar  &  Mollasses.  Put  all  our  Prisoners  aboard  and  sent  her  as  a  Cartel. 
While  engaged  with  this  vessel  another  Frigate  passed  close  to  us.  The  fog 
clearing  a  little  below  we  could  percieve  [sic-\  her  hull  and  ports  but  not  her 
Masts  or  rigging.  She  did  not  observe  us. 

August  the  11th  Wednesday    at  sea  standing  towards  Bristol  Channel 

Came  up  with  another  part  of  the  fleet  this  morning  and  after  a  chase 
of  4  hours  Captured  a  large  Ship  the  Mariner 23  —  laden  with  Sugar  &c  Bound 
to  Bristol.  Sent  Mr  Allen 24  aboard  with  directions  to  stand  after  us.  Crowded 
all  sail  after  another  to  leeward — 12  Sail  in  sight  in  that  direction  —  A 
Brig  &  Cutter  to  windward  —  after  a  long  chase  captured  the  other  named 
the  Betsy25  laden  with  Sugar —  at  the  same  time  captured  a  Pilot  Boat  Cutter 
Jane 26  —  Soon  after,  a  Brig  27  and  a  Cutter  Sloop 28  from  Poole  to  Liverpool 
with  Clay.  Sent  in  the  Prisoners  in  the  Brig.  Sent  in  the  Betsy  a  prize  — 
Burnt  the  Mariner  —  Sunk  the  Cutter  Sloop. 

10  oClk  P  M  captured  another  Cutter  Sloop  the  Dinah  &  Betty29  from 
Cork  for  I[ljfracombe  with  cattle.  Killed  and  got  on  board  2  head  —  Burnt 
her. 


22  The  Cordelia  is  not  mentioned  in  the  list  of  captures,  in  American  State  Papers  —  Naval  Affairs, 
1:374.      She  is  mentioned  in  the  British  lists,   however,  her  captain  being  named  Avery.      After  her  cargo 
was    destroyed  she  was  "delivered  up  to  the  prisoners  of  the  different  vessels,  amounting  to  48,  six  Masters 
and  42  men,  who  arrived  at  Cove  on   Wednesday,"  August   10th.  —  London   Times,   August   18,    1813,  p.  3. 
Some  accounts  credit  her  as  coming  from  the  island  of   St.   Martins. 

23  The  Mariner,  Capt.  Gilbert,  was  bound  from   St.   Croix  to  Bristol. 

24  Apparently  Lieut.  William  Howard  Allen  is  meant. 

25  The   Betsy,    Capt.    Merryweather,    bound    from    St.    Vincent's   to    Bristol.      She   was   retaken   by   the 
British  frigate  Leonidas,  Capt.   Seymour,  and  arrived  at  Plymouth.  —  London  Times,  August   18,  24  and  26, 
1813. 

26  No  record  has  been  found  of  this  pilot  boat  in  the  British  lists. 

27  The  Eleanora.     The  English  records  state,  that  she  was  given  up  as  a  cartel  and  arrived  at  Bristol. 

28  The  John  and  Thomas,  Capt.  Trewhella,  bound  from  Poole  to  Liverpool. 

29  Also  named  in  some  lists  Diana  and  Betty  and  Dinas  and  Betty.      She  was  commanded  by   Capt. 
J.  Evans,  who  deposed  that  he  fell  in  with  the  Argus  "off  the  Smalls."  —  London  Times,  August  18,   1813. 


20  THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

August  12th  Thursday  at  sea  off  the  Saltees  Ireland 
Captured  a  new  Brig  called  the  Ann  from  Cardigan30  to  London  with 
Slate  and  Welsh  Woolens.  Sunk  heq.]  Brought  too  a  Portuguese  Brig 
bound  to  Cork  —  Sent  the  Prisoners  from  the  2  last  prizes  on  board  of  her. 
Gave  chace  to  two  large  Ships  and  a  Brig  to  leeward  —  Allowed  the  Brig 
to  Pass  us  and  continued  the  chase  after  the  large  vessells  —  All  showing 
English  colors.  One  ship  showing  18  ports  the  other  16  apparently  preparing 
for  action.  Brought  them  too  and  sent  Mr  Allen  on  board  the  largest  the  Cap 
tain  of  which  refused  to  come  on  board  us;  and  before  our  boat  had  returned 
the[yj  both  made  sail  keeping  close  to  each  other.  Made  sail  and  engaged  them 
both.  The  large  one  struck  after  receiving  2  broadsides — chased  the  other 
close  in  and  she  escaped  among  the  Saltese  rocks.  The  large  one  proved  a 
Scotch  Ship  the  Defiance31  mounting  14  long  nines  21  men  —  from  Greenock 
to  Newfoundland.32 

August  13th  Friday    idem 

At  2  oClk  A.M.  captured  a  large  Brig  the  Baltic33  one  of  the  W.  I.  fleet 
laden  with  sugar  bound  to  Dublin  —  at  5  a  Sloop  laden  with  deal  boards  —  at 
6  burnt  the  Defiance  and  the  Baltic  —  threw  overboard  the  cargo  of  the  Sloop 
and  sent  her  away  with  the  Prisoners  at  9  P  M  —  fired  a  gun  and  brought  too 
a  large  Brig  the  Bel  ford 34  —  which  had  nearly  ran  aboard  of  us  —  She  proved 
to  be  from  Dublin  bound  to  London  laden  with  linen  wine  &c  worth  100,000  £ 
-  Took  out  of  her  a  box  of  Plate  and  at  12  oClk  burnt  her. 

August  14th  Saturday     St  George's  Channel 

Early  this  morning  came  to  action  with  a  large  English  Brig[.]    She  cap 
tured  us  after  an  action  of  45  minutes[.]     She  proved  to  be  the  Pelican. 

August  15th  Sunday     at  sea 

The  following  list  comprehends  the  number  of  killed  and  wounded  on 
board  of  our  vessel  as  far  as  can  be  at  present  ascertained. 
Mr  Wm  W  Edwards35  Midshipman.    Killed  by  shot  in  the  head. 

30  The  Ann,  Capt.  Richards,  bound  from  Barmouth  to  London. 

31  The  Defiance  belonged  to  Glasgow. 

32  Among  the  ships  credited  in  the  English  lists  as  captured  by  the  Argus  is  a  sloop  called  the  John 
and  Sally,  of  Cardigan,  bound  from  Cork  to  Ilfracombe;  also  that  another  sloop,  the  Fame,  was  "given  up." 

33  The  Baltic,  Capt.   Hardcastle,  from  Barbadoes  to   Dublin. 

34  She  is  called   erroneously   the  Bedford,   instead   of  Belford   in  the   list   in   American  State  Papers, 
Naval   Affairs,    1:374.      She    is    listed    correctly,    however,    in    Lloyd's    reports;    was    commanded    by    Capt. 
Donaldson;  bound  from  Dublin  to  London  "with '16, 500  pieces  of  linen  on  board."  —  London  Times,  August 
26,   1813. 

35  William  W.  Edwards  was  commissioned  a  midshipman  on  September  1,  1811. 


CRUISE  OF  THE  U.  S.  BRIG  ARGUS  IN  1813  21 

Mr  Richd  Delphy36  Midshipman.       D°    Had  both  legs  nearly  shot  off  at  the 

knees  —  he  survived  the  action  about  3  hours 
Joshua  Jones     Seaman  —  Killed. 
Geo  Gardiner     Seaman  —  His  thigh  taken  off  by  a  round  shot  close  to  his 

body,    he  lived  about  y2  an  hour 

Jn°  Finlay     Seaman  —  His  head  was  shot  off  at  the  close  of  the  action. 
Wm  Moulton     Seaman       Killed. 

Total  6. 

The  following  were  wounded    viz 

Wm  H  Allen  Esq —  Commander  —  His  left  knee  shattered  by  a  cannon  shot. 
Amputation  of  the  thigh  was  performed  about  2  hours  after  the  action 

—  An  anodyne  was  previously  administered  —  An  anodyne  at  night. 
Lieut  Watson 37  --  1st  —  Part  of  the  Scalp  on  the  upper  part  of  the  head  torn 

off  by  a  grape  shot  —  the  bone  denuded.  It  was  dressed  lightly  and  he 
returned  and  took  command  of  the  deck.  Now  on  board  the  Pelican. 

Mr  Colin  McCloud 38  —  Boatswain  —  Received  a  severe  lacerated  wound  on 
the  upper  part  of  the  thigh,  a  slight  one  on  the  face  and  a  contusion  on 
the  right  shoulder.  Dressed  simply  with  lint  and  roller  Bandage. 

Mr  James  White 39  —  Carpenter  —  Shot  near  the  upper  part  of  the  left  thigh 

—  bone   fractured.     Hemmorrhage  considerable  —  Dressed  the  wound 
with  lint  imbued  with  ol  olivar  —  applied  bandage  and  Splints  —  anodyne 
at  night     has  also  an  incised  wound  in  the  head  —  Dressing  —  Suture 

—  Adhesive  plaster  &  double  headed  roller  — 

Joseph  Jordan  — 'Boatswains  Mate.     Has  a  large  wound  thro  the  left  thigh 
the  bone  fractured  and  splintered,  —  the  back  part  of  the  right  thigh 
carried  off  and  nearly  the  whole  of  the  fleshy  nates  carried  away- 
Dressed  with  lint  imbued  with  ol  olivar  —  gave  him  a  large  anodyne  — 
repeated  it  at  night  —  Case  hopeless. 

Jno.  Young — Quarter  Master  —  Received  a  severe  shot  wound  in  the  left 
breast  seemingly  by  a  glancing  shot.  The  integuments  and  part  of  the 
extensor  muscles  of  the  hand  torn  away — Dressed  lightly  with  oil  and 
lint  with  appropriate  bandages  —  gave  him  an  anodyne  at  night. 

Francis  Eggert  —  Seaman  —  Has  a  very  severe  contusion  of  the  right  leg 
with  a  small  gun  shot  wound  a  little  above  the  outer  ancle  no  ball  dis 
coverable  —  Dressed  the  wound  with  lint  &  bandage  &  directed  the  leg  to 


38  Richard  Delphy  was  commissioned  a  midshipman  on  May   18,   1809. 

37  William  H.  Watson  was  commissioned  a  midshipman  on  January  1,  1808,  and  a  lieutenant  on  March 
7,  1813.     He  died  on  September   13,   1823. 

38  Colin  McCloud  was  commissioned  a  boatswain  on  March   17,   1812. 

39  James  White  was  commissioned  a  midshipman  on  August  20,  1814,  and  resigned  on  August  22,  1815. 


22  THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

be  kept  constantly  wet  with  Aq.  Veg.  Mineral  —  3  hours  after  reception 
the  leg  was  swelled  and  very  painful  gave  him  an  anodyne — Proposed 
Amputation  but  he  would  not  consent.  This  morning  the  leg  excessively 
tense  —  swelled  —  vesicated  —  and  of  a  dark  color  about  the  outer  ancle 
—  Has  considerable  fever  Directed  the  saline  mixture  with  occasional 
anodyne  To  continue  the  lotion. 

John  Nugent  —  Seaman  —  Gun  shot  wound  in  the  superior  part  of  the  right 
thigh  about  2  inches  from  the  groin  —  Thigh  bone  fractured  and  much 
splintered  —  ball  supposed  to  be  in — Several  pieces  of  bone,  were  ex 
tracted  but  the  ball  was  not  found  —  Dressed  lint  Bandage  with  splints  — 
Anodyne  —  Rested  considerably  well  last  night  but  there  has  been  a  large 
oozing  from  the  wound  —  Applied  fresh  lint.  No  fever. 

Charles  Baxter  —  Seaman  —  Has  a  lacerated  wound  of  the  left  ancle  —  The 
lower  part  of  the  fibula  splintered —  apparently  affecting  the  joint.  Has 
much  hemmorhage  from  this  wound.  He  has  also  a  gun  shot  wound  of 
the  right  thigh.  The  ball  has  passed  obliquely  downwards  thro  the  back 
part  of  the  thigh.  I  proposed  the  amputation  of  his  left  leg  but  he  would 
not  give  his  consent.  Dressed  both  wounds  with  lint  &  Roller  Bandages 
-  Made  considerable  compression  on  the  left  foot  in  order  to  restrain  the 
bleeding  —  Has  some  fever  this  morning.  H.  Mist.  Salin  —  Tamarind 
water  for  drink  —  low  diet. 

James  Kellam —  Seaman — Lacerated  wound  of  the  calf  of  the  right  leg  — 
also  a  wound  in  the  ham  of  the  same  Extremity  —  Dressing  simple  - 
To  day  the  leg  somewhat  swelled  and  painfull  —  slackened  the  bandage. 

Wm  Harington  —  Seaman  —  Complains  much  of  pain  &  soreness  in  the  small 
of  the  back  and  nates.  It  is  suspected  that  he  has  received  a  severe  con 
tusion  on  the  parts  H.  Anodyne  at  night  —  N.  S.  ad  Sxvi  Apply  con 
tinually  Aq.  Veg.  Min  to  the  parts. 

Jas  Hall — Seaman  —  Has  a  slight  wound  above  the  left  eye — I  suspect 
caused  by  a  splinter  —  Dressing  simple 

Total  ascertained —  12. 

Owing  to  the  disordered  state  of  the  vessel  the  wounded  have  wretched  ac 
commodation —  if  that  term  may  be  used  —  I  endeavoured  to  make  their 
condition  as  comfortable  as  possible  —  Divided,  those  of  our  people  who  re 
mained  on  board,  and  were  well,  into  watches  —  in  different  parts  of  the  vessel 
-  Mr  Hudson  Mr  Dennisson  &  myself  sitting  up  with  the  Captain —  Directed 
Lemonade  &  Tamarind  water  to  be  kept  made  and  served  to  the  Wounded. 


CRUISE  OF  THE  U.  S.  BRIG  ARGUS  IN  1813  23 

August  16th  Monday     arrived  at  Plymouth 

Capt  Allen  —  Morn  —  No  fever  —  has  had  some  slight  spasms  in  the  stump 

—  on  which  account  an  anodyne  was  occasionally  administered  —  He 

has  been  for  some  time  troubled  with  a  dyspeptic  complaint  which  is 

peculiarly  disagreeable  in  his  present  state     H.  Mist  Salina  with  rather 

an  excess  of  the  alkali. 

Eve  —  an  exudation  of  the  thinner  parts  of  the  blood  now  begins  to  appear 
thro'  the  dressings  —  stump  as  easy  as  can  be  expected  —  Enjoined  a 
light  diet  —  Chicken  broath,  Panada  &c  —  Administe[re]d  a  purg.  but  it 
was  not  retained. 

Colin  McLeod--  Thigh  but  little  swelled.     No  febrile  action  in  his  pulse  - 
He  is  in  the  best  of  spirits. 

Mr  White — Morn  —  Rested  considerably  last  night  in  consequence  of  the 
anodyne  —  Some  oozing  from  the  posterior  orifice  —  Is  extremely  weak 
&  is  troubled  with  spasmodic  twitches  —  Gave  him  wine  &  water  as  drink 
-  Soup  occasionally. 

Eve  —  very  restless  —  delirium  —  Gave  him  a  large  anodyne  which 
was  repeated  in  the  night  with  no  good  effect. 

Joseph  Jordan  —  Died  this  morning. 

John  Young  —  His  Breast  easy — arm  painfull  apparently  in  consequence 
of  the  swelling  which  has  taken  place  —  Loosened  the  Bandage  —  Pulse 
frequent  and  rather  hard  —  Directed  Sulph  Sod  —  and  an  anodyne  at 
night  —  Eve.  A  poultice  was  directed 

Francis  Eggert  —  this  morning  H.  Sulph.  Sod.  Is  easier — but  the  leg  is 
still  excessively  swelled —  Cap  pil  opii  gr  i  4ta  quaq  hor.  —  Contin[.j  the 
lotion  —  H.  mist  Salin.  oviii  adde  Tart  Emet  gr  ii  cap  lact  mag  2  quaq  hor. 

John  Nugent — Is  easier  than  could  have  been  expected  Has  some  fever  to 
day  —  H  mist  Salin  cum  Tart  Emet. 

Charles  Baxter  —  Considerable  oozing  yet  from  the  ancle    Pulse  frequent  - 
Contih[.]  mist  Salin. 

Jas  Kellam — Has  some  fever  to  day  —  Complains  much  of  soreness  —  Di 
rected  a  cataplas[ni]. 

Wm  Herington  —  -  The  same — Contin.  the  application. 

Jas  Hall  —  Eye  a  little  sore  —  No  complaint. 

Our  wounded  are  in  a  distressed  condition.     The  riotous  behaviour  of 

the  captors  is  such  that  they  have  no  rest  whatever  and  are  frequently  trodden 

upon  and  bruisd  by  them. 

Directed  to  day  thin  Chicken  broth  to  be  served  out  to  them  with  their 

light  Nourishment. 


24  THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

August  17th  Tuesday     Plymouth 

The  wounded  and  sick  Seamen  were  this  morning  carried  to  the  hospital 
-  Mr  Hudson  attended  them  thither — I  request'd  him  to  enquire  what  ac 
commodation  he  could  find  for  the  captain  at  the  Town  as  the  noise  &  tumult 
on  board  is  very  disagreeable. 

Cap1  Allen  —  Stump  in  a  good  state  —  but  little  soreness  —  but  has  some 
fever  this  morning  —  -  Took  an  anodyne  last  night —  dosed  at  times  — the 
sickness  of  stomach  &  vomiting  continues  —  He  takes  the  Saline  mist 
occasionally  —  but  without  relief  —  He  is  allowed  wine  in  his  drink  — 
Diet  Chicken  broath —  Panada  &c  --  Injected  a  Cathartic  enema. 

This  afternoon  I  obtained  permission  to  go  to  town  for  the  purpose  of  hiring 
private  lodgings  for  the  Captain.  On  return  found  him  worse.  Vomit 
ing  more  frequent.  Pulse  weak  and  frequent  —  Skin  cold  —  now  & 
then  troubled  with  Hiccup — Mind,  at  times,  wandering — false  vision 
-  Directed  J/£  a  wine  glass  full  of  Wine  every  hour  —  Ether  &  Tinct  of 
Opii  occasionally  for  the  hiccup  which  did  not  often  after  recur  —  Lime 
water  &  milk  was  administered  as  an  anti  emitic  but  with  little  relief. 
Soda  water  was  also  occasionally  given  —  Applied  hot  fomentations  to 
the  region  of  the  stomach  with  anodyne  liniment. 

August  18th  Wednesday 

Cap1  Allen  —  Passed  a  very  restless  night  —  vomiting  continues,  altho'  wine 
&  occasional  anodynes  seemed  to  relieve  it. 

This  morning  I  dressed  the  Stump  assisted  by  the  Surgeon  of  the 
San  Salvadore  40  Flag  Ship.  Found  the  incision  united  but  a  little  at  the 
inner  angle  —  Surface  flabby  Discharge  thin,  sanious  —  Whole  appear 
ance  exhibiting  a  want  of  action  in  the  parts. 

On  consultation  with  the  Surgeon  of  the  Flag  Ship  and,  with  Dr  Magrath 
of  the  Mill  Prison  Hospital,  it  was  agreed  to  have  him  removed  thither 
-Mr  Denison,   Mr  Hudson,  &  myself  were  to  be  favoured  with  the 
liberty  of  remaining  with  him  untill  the  event  of  his  case  was  determined. 
-  The  disagreeable  condition  of  the  vessel,  —  his  danger,  and  the  emi 
nent  medical  assistance  at  the  Hospital  concur  in  inducing  us  to  adopt  this 
plan. 

11  AM    Cap*  Nash  of  the  San  Salvador,  sent  his  launch  with  a  large  cot  slung 
in  it. 


40  The   Salvador   del   Mtindo,   at    Plymouth,   the   ship   on    which    "nine  of   the   Argus's   crew,    strongly 
suspected  of  being  Englishmen,"  had  been  sent  "for  examination."  —  London  Times,  August  31,  1813. 


CRUISE  OF  THE  U.  S.  BRIG  ARGUS  IN  1813  25 

12  M  Arrived  at  the  Hospital  and  found  a  neat  &  commodious  apartment 
ready  —  on  arrival  he  complained  of  languor  &  appeared  somewhat  fa 
tigued —  a  glass  of  wine  revived  him — vomiting  continues  —  By  the 
direction  of  Dr  Magrath  a  mist  Ether  &  laud  with  an  Infusion  of  P 
Peruv.  was  given  him  &  a  Liniment  composed  of  Camph,  opium  and 
oil  was  rubbed  on  the  Epigrastric  region,  but  without  effect  —  Skin  moist 
&  cold —  A  blister  was  applied  to  the  stomach  and  bottles  of  warm  water 
to  his  foot  —  Abdomen  humid  —  Has  had  no  passage  from  his  bowels, 
except  2  evacuations  yesterday,  in  consequence  of  the  Enema  Dr  Magrath 
advised  a  purg —  Cal.  et  P  Rhei  was  given  in  balm  —  It  was  soon  after 
ward  rejected. 

9  P.M.  —  Pulse  feeble,  frequent,  interrupted,  skin  covered  with  a  clammy 
moisture  —  Vomiting  continues  unabated  notwithstanding  the  use  of 
anti  Emetic  remedies.  —  Since  last  report  has  taken  Alkali  &  lime  juice 
administered  seperately  —  is  now  using  Soda  Water  supersaturated  with 
Carb.  Acid  Gas.  —  He  is  extremely  restless,  desireing  often  to  have 
his  position  altered  —  Comatose  Delirium  with  startings  —  subsultus 
tendinum. 

1 1  oClk  P  M.    He  died. 

To  the  time  of  Cap*  Allen's  death,  Dr  Magrath  &  his  assistant  Mr 
Allan  remain" d  with  us  and  afforded  every  assistance  possible. 
[No  entry  made  August  19-20.] 

August  21st  Saturday  —  Mill  Prison 

Attended  the  funeral  of  Cap*  Allen  with  Mr  Denison  Mr  Hudson  & 
Mr  Snelson41  as  Mourners. 


41  Robert  L.  Snelson  was  commissioned  a  midshipman  on  January  1,  1812.     The  other  names  have  not 
been  identified. 


°&*5«-    ^—r^ 


\ 


PRINTED  AT  THE  NEW  YORK  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


Gaylord  Bros. 

Makers 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
PAT,  JAN.  21,  1908 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


YD  12381 


